PREFACE 



The purpose of this book is to tell factually, but with interesting history 

 and anecdote, the fascinating story of the sailboat classes of North America 

 —and of countries overseas when substantial numbers of boats have been 

 imported. 



I have not separated the one-design from the development classes as a 

 group, but when a class comes in the latter category, I have stated the 

 fact in the description of the class. 



Sailboats belong to a class, as I interpret it, when a number of them 

 are alike or their differences are under sufficient restrictions to enable them 

 to race against each other as a class without the necessity of handicap 

 allowances. The Sailboat Classes of North America covers both one- 

 design and development classes together, but is divided into two principal 

 categories: Part I— Racing Classes, in which racing and/or day sailing is 

 the primary objective, and Part II— Cruising Classes, in which cruising is 

 the principal objective, though the boats may sometimes race as a class, as 

 in the case of the Tritons or Concordias. The fact that many of the cruising 

 boats also compete in such events as the Bermuda Race or on club cruises 

 does not make them part of a class, as I shall consider it. I am including 

 here among cruising classes only those classes which have been built on a 

 one-design or restricted class basis in sufficient numbers, as I see it, to 

 justify their inclusion. Whether they race as a class is not the important 

 factor; primary consideration, rather, is given to their number, importance, 

 and, if they have been sailing a long time, to their reputation among yachts- 

 men. There are too many new— and old— so-called cruising classes to in- 

 clude more than a few in this category. While I have had helpful advice, 

 the classes selected are "up to me" and all brickbats should be thrown in 

 my direction. Part III is a brief section covering some of the principal 

 catamaran classes. 



Dimensions are not a primary consideration in my decision on whether 

 to include a class with the racers or the cruisers; the consideration is the 

 purpose for which the boats are primarily used. For instance, 12 Meters are 

 included among the racing classes where 8-foot dinghies are also included. 

 Neither is the number a deciding factor; there are over three hundred 



PREFACE 11 



